Former West Ham Midfielder Has No Regrets Over Snubbing Sunderland

Stewart Downing has confirmed that he rejected a move to Sunderland in preference for Championship club Middlesbrough.

Downing left West Ham for £5m in the summer.

Downing told the Sunderland Echo:

“I’d spoken to the chairman and Aitor and they had good plans here and were looking to strengthen the team.

“He wanted me to be part of that playing as a number 10 or as a wide man. For me, it was a very easy decision to make. The chairman asked if I was up for it and I said ‘if you can make the deal happen and you get me out of West Ham then I’m happy to come back’.”